I’ve been lucky to have started some community forums that have been rather successful. Every time someone asks me what I did to succeed, I am lost for words.
I honestly cannot claim that marketing the sites online through SEO or even forum marketing works. That is mainly because I am one lazy fellow and internet marketing I can assure you, is not for the lazy.
However, I have realised that most of my forums were started because of something that pissed me off or I was really interested in. When I say really interested in , I mean I loved it so much that I hated everyone who was against my idea. Kind of like apple vs microsoft.
For example, if I hated a home security systems company, I would set up a forum on hating security systems companies. The members would then add other companies they hate. And presto, I would have a community of people who would talk about these companies 24 hours a day.
I can assure you that it is easier to write about things that you hate, than things that you like. Don’t ask me why. All I know is that it has worked for me very well.